diatom

American  

[dahy-uh-tuhm, -tom] / ˈdaɪ ə təm, -ˌtɒm /

noun

1. any of numerous microscopic, unicellular, marine or freshwater algae of the phylum Chrysophyta, having cell walls containing silica.

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diatom British  

/ ˈdaɪətəm, -ˌtɒm /

noun

1. any microscopic unicellular alga of the phylum Bacillariophyta , occurring in marine or fresh water singly or in colonies, each cell having a cell wall made of two halves and impregnated with silica See also diatomite

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diatom Scientific  

/ dī′ə-tŏm′ /

1. Any of various one-celled aquatic organisms of the class Bacillariophyceae that have hard bivalve shells (called frustules) composed mostly of silica, can perform photosynthesis, and often live in colonies. They make up a large portion of the marine plankton and are an important food source for many aquatic animals. The skeletal remains of diatoms are the main constituent of diatomite.

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Etymology

Origin of diatom

1835–45; < New Latin Diatoma originally a genus name, feminine noun based on Greek diátomos cut in two. See dia-, -tome

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diatom

Using a technology called nanoSIMS, they could show that the Rhizobia exchanges fixed nitrogen with the diatom in return for carbon.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2024

Maussan says that the pair of mummified aliens were discovered in a diatom mine in Cusco, Peru.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2023

Skoon cat litter $28 Absorbent cat litter made of diatom pebbles.

From The Verge ● Mar. 26, 2022

She cleverly linked the mysterious seizures and deaths of hundreds of California sea lions with the harmful diatom Pseudo-nitzschia and its by-product, domoic acid.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 24, 2022

The most common diatom in Cochituate water is Asterionella Bleakleyii.

From Through a Microscope Something of the Science Together with many Curious Observations Indoor and Out and Directions for a Home-made Microscope. by Frederick Leroy Sargent

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